Is there a right way or a wrong way to boil pasta noodles?
@shaggin (71676)
United States
October 9, 2010 12:05pm CST
Do you believe that there is a correct way to boil pasta noodles or do you think it really doesnt make much difference? What do you do when you boil noodles?
My ex and I are both very stubborn and we always thought each of us was doing things the right way. Neither of us could agree on how noodles should be boiled. I dont think it really matters but he insisted that you are supposed to boil the water first then throw the noodles in and that way it keeps them from getting soggy. I just put the amount of noodles that I need to boil in water then put them on the stove and light the burner. I think it saves time because it helps soften the noodles up a little and then you dont have to cook them as long. Then you just remove them from the heat and strain them when they are done.
I've also heard people say they add salt to the water to get the water to boil faster. I never really noticed a difference in the amount of time it takes the water to get to the boiling point when I have done that.
3 people like this
22 responses
@adamgray1337 (147)
• United States
9 Oct 10
I boil the water first, and then put the noodles in. and to test if they are done i pull a noodle out and fling it to my wall, if it sticks that means the noodles are done. And then i drain water and add butter. I don't think it should really matter how you boil them. I would probably eat deep fried noodles as long as they were edible.
2 people like this
@shaggin (71676)
• United States
11 Oct 10
LOL do you seriously do that are you just being silly. Ick my ceiling almost never gets washed down it probably has dust on it and germs. I would not want to throw noodles up there and try to catch them in my mouth. yucky. Picturing someone just throwing noodles all over their ceiling and trying to catch them in their mouth is pretty funny.
@shaggin (71676)
• United States
10 Oct 10
Oh my gosh lol that is really funny. You and another commentor said the said thing about throwing noodles against the wall. I have never even heard of that! I really dont think I will ever try it though either lol. If I throw it at my wall then it will leave a residue mark and I will have to wash the wall off. I can usually just tell by looking at them. If not then I grab a noodle with a fork hold it up... blow on it till it cools...then chew it and see if its done or not.
@adamgray1337 (147)
• United States
11 Oct 10
This is true. I just like to do things the fun way. I get overly excited and throw noodles on my ceiling sometimes to see how long it takes for it to unstick and i try to catch it in my mouth. hahahah
1 person likes this
@katsmeow1213 (28717)
• United States
9 Oct 10
I think everyone will have their own opinion.. and with most OPINIONS everyone thinks their own is right. I'm sure a professional chef will tell you that the salt is a must, oil is a must, boiling first is a must. They'll also probably tell you that to test done-ness you throw the noodle against a wall and see if it sticks.. I've actually seen them say that.
That doesn't mean what you're doing is wrong. Obviously you've cooked noodles before, and they've turned out fine, right? So how is that wrong? It's a fricken noodle.. who cares how it's done as long as the end result is to your liking.
Personally, I like my noodles softer. I can't do the Al Dente as they call it. So I will boil them a little longer. I personally boil the water first, but I do not add salt or oil.
2 people like this
@shaggin (71676)
• United States
10 Oct 10
Thats what I thought. Like I really kind of let it slide. I just said that I liked to do it my way for a reason. But my ex always had to be right about everything and insisted that I was doing it wrong. I imagine even if I did ask a chef what way is the right way ... I could go to another chef and ask them and they would tell me something different. I dont know if there really is a right or wrong way. I am a good cook so thats all that matter :)
@shaggin (71676)
• United States
12 Oct 10
So basically you dont put much thought into making the noodles. Its kind of a no brainer how to make them but theres always the people who think they know everything and will try to act like they are professional no matter what they do hence my ex telling me I was cooking them wrong. But I dont bring the water to boil first I just toss them in cold water and stir them. It works just as well for me. I dont time the noodles I can just tell when they are done.
@shia88 (4571)
• Malaysia
9 Oct 10
Hi,
At first when I started to cook pasta, I have no
idea on how to cook pasta noodle.But I noticed
there is a small instruction written on the packaging and I learnt
from there.
It is pretty easy to cook the pasta noodle.
Boil a pot of hot water,then put the pasta noodle in and add bit of salt.
Don't over boiled them or else, they will get too soft and not
nice to eat.
Then strain the noodle and mixed them well with some olive oil.
That is pretty simple!!
2 people like this
@shaggin (71676)
• United States
9 Oct 10
shia88 lol yes it is very easy to boil noodles. I remember the first time I made spaghetti I had to ask how long your supposed to boil the noodles for. I asked a friend who told me. I didnt grow up learning how to cook. I learned when I moved out on my own. Now that you said boil it and strain it and mix it with some olive oil I think that is precicely what I am going to make but I also going to add some butter yumm. This conversation has got me very hungry.
@redmaryjane (891)
• United States
9 Oct 10
I put the noodles AFTER the water boils. Before I chuck the noodles in though, I put salt. Putting oil in the water doesn't make sense. Noodles after boiling saves more time and keeps the shape and flavor of the noodles. Salt before boiling takes FOREVER to boil. All these are from experiences gratifying and frustrating ;)
@shaggin (71676)
• United States
3 Aug 16
The oil keeps them from sticking together after you drain them is what I read more recently. I quit mylot before so I never saw this comment until now.
@ench815 (465)
• Philippines
9 Oct 10
It is easier to put your noodles in hot water as they bend when you put them in as a lot of people don't like to cut their noodles. Salt will not make your water boil faster but rather, delays the boiling point and thus, you are supposed to put the salt right before it boils or when it is boiling already. Putting salt is adding flavor to your pasta not making the water boil faster.
On the other hand, there are some dried rice noodles that you have to soak in water first before cooking. But with pasta, I would still follow the general rule that you throw in the noodles on boiling water. Hope that helps. =)
2 people like this
@shaggin (71676)
• United States
9 Oct 10
I tend to break my noodles in half because it makes it easier for my little kids to get them on their forks and into their mouths without them falling off. I figure the things you add to your noodles is what give it flavor so to me it doesnt make much sense to salt the water. I'll have to try it next time and see if I notice a difference.
@spikeyness (13)
• South Africa
9 Oct 10
It is the preferred method to boil the water first, add salt, as I find pasta that has not had salt added to it, tends to make it taste very bland. Once you have added the pasta to the hot water, make sure to stir it straight away so that the pasta does not clump or stick together. Once ready strain and add butter or olive oil as suggested.
2 people like this
@suspenseful (40193)
• Canada
9 Oct 10
Sorry, but your ex is right. You bring the water to a rolling boil, add a little salt, and a little oil to keep the noodles from sticking. If you are going to put them in a dish, like macaroni and cheese, you cook them just before al dente. \otherwise, cook them as soft as you wold like.
@shaggin (71676)
• United States
9 Oct 10
You actually do not need to add oil to the water to keep noodles from sticking. If you simply stir them a few times while they are in the water the starch from the noodles keeps the noodles from sticking to the bottom and sides of the pan. But if you dont stir them right as you put them in the pot then they will stick to the bottom. I dont use salt added to my water and my noodles do not stick unless I forget to stir them.
1 person likes this
@suspenseful (40193)
• Canada
10 Oct 10
I usually do not add oil when I am making macaroni or shell noodles, but when I am making spaghetti and even then if I am not doing something else, some of them stick. So it could be the size of the noddles. It is not that they stick to the bottom, it is that they may stick together.
As for salt, I have heard it does make them taste better and if you are like me and hardly put any salt or none of all in the sauces, it does make it taste better.
1 person likes this
@shaggin (71676)
• United States
14 Oct 10
Hmm maybe it depends on the noodle like you said. I usually just cook rotini or elbow noodles or spaghetti noodles. None of them stick together or to the bottom of the pan for me as long as I stir them a few times and make sure they water is deep enough to cover them.
1 person likes this
@prinzcy (32322)
• Malaysia
15 Oct 10
Is there a right way? 
I'm the only one that cook Western food in my house so there's no comparison, complain or whatever on how I cook them. Back to the boiling pasta part, I usually boil the water, add some salt and oil and add the pasta when the water really boiling. I don't know whether that's the right way as well.
I'm the only one that cook Western food in my house so there's no comparison, complain or whatever on how I cook them. Back to the boiling pasta part, I usually boil the water, add some salt and oil and add the pasta when the water really boiling. I don't know whether that's the right way as well. 1 person likes this
@shaggin (71676)
• United States
15 Oct 10
Hmm well I guess you have a point there if your the only one who cooks it those people that are eating your cooking with think thats the way its supposed to be cooked weather it is right or not lol. Most people that have left me comments say they add salt and oil to the water like you said you do.
@his0yir (258)
•
12 Oct 10
For cooking pasta, I will let the water boil before I throw it in, as my previous experience told me, if I boil pasta in cold water, it will just stick the the bottom of the pan, and it is a pain to shovel it off later. However, if pasta doesn't stick together by boiling in cold water, I would do the same way like you, because I don't need to stay in front of cooker for 5 minutes waiting for the water to boil.
Nevertheless, I think it is more down to personal taste than right or wrong way to boil pasta. Some people do find pasta taste differently when it is cooked in different ways. I guess it is where disagreement arises when two people see things from different sides.
1 person likes this
@shaggin (71676)
• United States
12 Oct 10
I dont have a problem with the noodles sticking to the bottom when I cook the noodles starting in cold water. I just stir them when I put them in and then stir them a few times while they are cooking and they almost never stick to the bottom. If I forget to stir it though then they will stick together and be hard to seperate to not get done right. I went to Olive Garden one time and the noodles were like that in my fettuccine I never went back to that restuarant.
@bounce58 (17387)
• Canada
15 Oct 10
I do it like your ex does!
I let the water boil first before I dump in the pasta. And I add a little salt, but I never thought of it as to make the water boil faster. I've always thought of it to make the pasta taste a little better.
And for how long to let it boil, who knows!! It's a hit or miss in my case.
@shaggin (71676)
• United States
15 Oct 10
I know one of the people who said that adding salt to the water helps it boil faster was my ex. Well looks like according to all the comments left here by mylotters that he was wrong about that. Its just to add taste to the noodles. I'm going to start adding salt to the water when I boil noodles from now on and see if it makes them taste better :)
@madteaparty (2748)
• Japan
10 Oct 10
You're the first person I hear who puts the noddles in the water before heating it 
When I boil pasta noddles I always boil the water first, and add some salt too. To tell you the truth I don't know why do I always add salt, that's something I learnt from my mother and can't get rid of that custom now
I don't really know if there's a better way to boil pasta noddles, but the one I use works well for me 
When I boil pasta noddles I always boil the water first, and add some salt too. To tell you the truth I don't know why do I always add salt, that's something I learnt from my mother and can't get rid of that custom now
I don't really know if there's a better way to boil pasta noddles, but the one I use works well for me 1 person likes this
@junrapmian (2169)
• Philippines
14 Oct 10
I do the same thing as what your boyfriend is doing. Boil first the water, add some salt and butter. When the water is boiling that's the time I'll put in the noodles and continuously mixing it for about five to seven minutes. This won't make your noodles soggy and because you put butter in it, it won't stick together.
1 person likes this
@shaggin (71676)
• United States
14 Oct 10
I've never heard of putting butter in the water. I've heard of using salt and oil but never butter. But now that I think of it butter would work just as well as the oil because butter is oily. Noodles wont stick together anyway though as long as you stir them often due to the starch in them.
@lindaharding627 (1442)
• United States
17 Oct 10
I always put the noodles in the water then bring it to a boil. I think they get done faster and it is one less step that I have to take. I don't think there is really a right way or wrong way to cook noodles. I never add salt because most noodles already have salt in them. Hubby and I are not overly fond of salt. I don't usually add salt to what I am cooking. I will cook with bullion cubes.
1 person likes this
@shaggin (71676)
• United States
17 Oct 10
Three pages of discussions and your the first person who boils noodles the way I do with putting the noodles in water and then bringing them to boil. I really do feel it saves time. I like salt but I have never added it to my noodles. I've gotten so many comments saying that it adds taste to the noodles that I am going to have to try it.
@terro1 (1)
• Italy
9 Oct 10
Ciao; sono un cuoco italiano; per cuocere qualunque tipo di pasta devi mettere tanta acqua in una pentola; attendi il bollore forte e metti il sale (spesso o doppio); a questo punto bollirà ancora più forte: cala la pasta e comincia a girare; attendi fino al punto in cui ti risulta leggermente dura sotto i denti; togli l'acqua e metti in padella con il sugo sul fuoco lenntiissimo....dopo 30 secondi che hai mescolato bene puoi impiattare e...buon appetito...
ora ti chiedo io un consiglio:
come guadagnare su questo sito?
ho scritto qualcosa, ma non ho guadagnato nulla....ciao
1 person likes this
@shaggin (71676)
• United States
9 Oct 10
Ok wow. Since you are a newbie here I will tell you that you need to write that in english. If someones discussion is written in english you shouldnt write back in spanish or whatever language that is. Me writing in english should tell you that I cannot understand spanish.
1 person likes this
@jahernandezrivas (11288)
• United States
10 Oct 10
When I boil the noodles the way I tell if they are done is if you can cut the noodles with a fork it's done, but I am not a good noodle maker because I hardly ever use them, L.O.L.Have a nice day1!
Have a nice day1!
@epicure35 (2814)
• United States
10 Oct 10
Generally speaking, yes, there is a correct way to boil noodles.
The goal is to cook them until they are "al dente" (Italian for "to the tooth"), meaning you can feel the "bite" or texture as you eat, rather than having mushy noodles.
First boil the water, then add the noodles. Salt, depending on whose advice you follow is optional or not, used for dried pasta or fresh pasta - or not.
I think the noodles cook faster in boiling water.
Nobody I know likes mushy, soggy noodles.
But, since much of cooking is, indeed, a matter of "taste", maybe some like their noodles mushy.
No matter which way, it certainly is not worth arguing about.
@shaggin (71676)
• United States
11 Oct 10
I agree with you. It certainly was not something we should have argued about. It wasent necessarily an argument it was just a matter of him wanting me to do what he said because he felt he knew the right way and I was doing it wrong. I'm a good cook. I always get compliments on my cooking so I shouldnt worry about if someone thinks I'm not doing things their way.
@epicure35 (2814)
• United States
11 Oct 10
Thanks for your great discussion. I always admire a good cook!
@starrose_ara (784)
• Philippines
10 Oct 10
When the water is boiling I add a small amount of salt and oil. This is done to avoid the pasta in sticking together hence the oil as for the salt it adds some salty delicious flavor to the pasta itself. Al Dente is the best way to cook your noodles, just right not too soft and not that hard and rubbery. I get a piece of noodle when its sort of colored white. Then I take a bite, if its al dente I remove it from the fire and drain it.
1 person likes this
@gjax57 (897)
• United States
10 Oct 10
Hi Shaggin, lol you are to cute..I ALWAYS start off with boiling water first.I do add a pinch of salt to get the water boiling faster or you can cover the pot too to get it boiling faster..my Mom told me to add a drop of oil also so the noodles wont stick together either and I find that to be effective...boil for 10 to 12 minutes and walla...add some butter and grated cheese and yet sooooo yummy :)...or your favorite sauce...oh and don't forget the italian bread hehe
@YoungKing010 (20)
• China
9 Oct 10
yup!add salt to the water make pasta more soft than first time u put them in the pot!another statement is put the pasta in coolwater at first time are better than directly to the hot one. u know water from unboild to boiling at least take 5 min in regular .it make pasta being soft and easy boiling!i hope it could contribute much to u!
1 person likes this
@CaseyRoss9966 (4056)
• United States
2 Aug 16
I feel like either way takes about the same time. I always wait for the water to boil and then add them just because that is how I was raised to do it. Just always remember to stir them or they stick to the bottom and burn. As long as they aren't burnt then I would say either way is fine.
@shaggin (71676)
• United States
3 Aug 16
After years I have noticed putting them in and then bringing the boil seems to make them soggier so I do it my exes way now haha.
